Gravity operated weighing machine



Jan. 14, 1964 L E, SMH-H 3,117,638 l GRAVITY OPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE y Filed June 15. 1960 s sheets-snm 1 /N VENTO/P. 14n/@ENCE f. 5M/TH ATTP/YEK Jan. 14, 1964 L. E. sMrrH 3,117,638

GRAVITY OPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE Filed June 13. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEN 7'0/2 A WAENCE E. M/ TH Jan. 14, 1964 l... E. sMrrH 3,117,638

GRAVITY OPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1960 s sheets-sheet s ymw ATTOP/vfx United States Patent 3,117,638 GRAVHTY GPERATED WEIGHING MACHINE Lawrence Smith, Whittier, iowa Filed June 13, 1960, Ser. No. 35,763 9 Claims. (Cl. 177-14) This invention relates to improvements in grain weighing machines and more particularly to such machines that perate automatically by the torce of gravity.

One of the important objects contemplated herein is the provision of a multi-pocket rotating bucket or drum associated with a grain receiving hopper and including closure means for selectively opening and closing communication between the hopper and the bucket. In this respect a further object resides in provisions for respective manual and automatic means for actuating the closure.

Another important object inhering in this invention is the provision of a metering wheel therewith which can be set to permit a predetermined number of bucket rotations and which automatically effects the closing oi communication between the hopper' and the bucket to terminate the operation of the machine when such number of rotations have been completed.

A iurt4 er object includes an improved stop means to regulate the rotation of the bucket so that the pockets properly register with the hopper and with the stop operating so as to eliminate for all practical purposes the accumulation and packing of grain on the walls of the drum pockets.

Still another object is to provide an improved scale for selectively regulating the amount of grain that can be weighed each pocket during any given weighing operation.

Further objects and the more obvious advantages of the invention will be mentioned or else appear plainly from the description which follows.

invention consists of novel parts and combination of parts to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set iorth are attained, as pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FlG. l is perspective view of my new weighing machine which is preferably shown arranged in a battery of two machines,

FG. 2 is an enlarged side view taken from the line 2 2 of FIG. l,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. l but showing certain of the control apparatus in a different position of operation,

FEC-v. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FlG. 3,

HG. 5 is a top plan view of the weight scale taken from the line 5 5 of FlG. 2,

FLG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a modiiied structure for the interior of the drum or bucket,

FIG. 7 is a side View of this invention showing a modified structure for controlling the closure and including a scale capable oi more detailed. setting,

FlG. 8 is a side view of the opposite side of the weigher shown in FIG. 7,

FlG. 9 is similar to Fl. 8 but showing certain of the control apparatus in a diierent operating position, and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of an electrical switch arrangement taken from the line ih li oi FlG. 9.

Referring to the drawings a hopper l2 has the open bottom i4 disposed over a conveyor, chute or receptacle lo in which grain is deposited as will later appear. The top i8 of hopper l2 is reinforced by a rigid frame means 2@ which carries bearing members 22 on respective opposite ends 24 and Z5 for rotatably supporting an axle 2S on which there is mounted a drum or drum-like bucket i-for rotation therewith. Such bucket 3th (FIG. 4) has a longitudinal partition 32 defining two equal compartice ments or pockets 34 and 36 provided with the respective oppositely disposed openings 3S and di: at the perimeter and the arcuate bottoms i2 and 44. At the normal position of rest, openings 3S and are in a vertical plane and partition 32 is angularly disposed to such plane. In devices of this type, a drum member having pockets and rotatably mounted on a hopper is old, and in operation the buckets of such devices successively receive grain to be weighed with the drum quickly turning by gravity as the receiving bucket is filled to a desired capacity so that the grain is discharged through the bottom of the hopper. Such weighers have also included scale means for regulating the amount oi grain necessary to rotate the drum, and in this invention l have provided certain improvements relating to the drum, the control of grain flow into the buckets, a metering device for terminating the operation of the weigher automatically and certain improvements in the scale associated therewith.

in spaced relationship above the hopper l2, a chute 4e is supported by braces 43 mounted to or integral with one side of the top end i3 ot1 the hopper for the purpose of receiving grain from a spout or the like Sti, connected to a source of grain supply, and directinf7 it into one of the pockets 3d and 3o. The bottom oi the chute 46 defines a restricted opening 52 and means for both manually and automatically controlling the ilow of grain through opening are included in this invention, For a description as to the manual means, reference is mede now to FGS. l-4. The opening and closing oi communication between chute 4o and the pockets 34 and Sie through chute opening 52 is effected by an arcuate door, plate or slide member fidwhich has a length co-extensive with the lengt or the drum and opening 52, and is provided with a longitudinal opening (FIG. 4) adapted to register' with opening 52 at times as will later appear. Each end of door 5d carries a triangular bracket 5S pivotally secured at its apex end to the respective braces 4S at opposite sides oi the drum 3h whereby it is closely adjacent the bottom ot opening 52 and can be moved to effectively open or close the same depending upon the relative position of opening 56 as is obvious. The closed position of the door or slide 54 is shown in FlG. 2 and for moving it to open position (FlG. 4), a modied bell crank 62 having the upper and lower arm members and tni respectively has the upper arm 64 secured to one of the doors Sd and the lower arm ed extending laterally and exteriorly of the drum and terminating in an angularly disposed handle dit. Crank 62 extends over and is secured to the pivot point 6h oi bracket :T8 so that a downward movement oi handle (FlG. 3) moves door 54. to open position.

The automatic return of closure member or door 54 to closed position after a predetermined amount of grain has passed through this device is one of die important features of this invention and is accomplished as follows, reference being made to FGS. l-3. A tension spring 7@ connects from hopper trame Ztl to the upper portion of crank arm and is arranged so as to normally urge crank 62 in a direction that will place door .54 in closed position. However, a rod l2 secured at one end to the upper portion of crank arm o4 has its other end positioned to move over a locking jaw '74 suitably secured to a support 76 carried by chute 46. A second locking jaw 7d complementary to and pivotally secured at one end to jaw 74 is normally yieldingly held away from jaw 74 by a spring Sil connected to a portion of support '76. The other end oi jaw is engaged by an operating rod 82 which extends downwardly to a toggle action connection with lever S4 carried in a bracket do on hopper frame Rod 32 may include a turnbuckle for obvious reasons. Thus, with crank o2 moved downwardly so as to place door 54 in open position relative to chute 46, rod 72 will extend between jaws '7d and 7S and by moving lever 84. upwardly (FIG, 3) such jaws will be tightly clamped against rod 72 suilciently to hold door 54- against movement by spring 7GB. When lever Se is moved downwardly (FIG. l), spring itl will, of course, move member 5d to closed position and the automatic downward movement of lever S4 is accomplished by my new metering wheel @il which l shall now describe.

At the same side of the drum 3@ as the crank 62 and A associated parts described above, the axle 2S projects for connection with a suitable gear box 92 which is mounted on a platform @i supported by a brace 96 carried by member Wheel gli, which is of disc shape, is rotatably secured to a shaft also connected to the gear box 92 and it' will thus be appreciated that the number of rotations of wheel 99 relative to the number of rotations of drum 3@ on axle 2S will be determined by the gear ratios in box S22 and this may, of course, be of arbitrary determination. Wheel Si?. is provided with spaced holes lltll about its periphery and includes a gauge arm lili); having one end pivotally secured thereto at its axis and the other end having pawl means lll for selective removable engagement with holes illu. Pawl ldd is mounted through a projecting support we' on arm M2. The position of wheel 90 is such that when lever tid is in its upward position (FlG. 3), it is closely adjacent the peripheral portion of wheel 9i). By this arrangement, with arm lltlZ secured in a given position relative to one of the holes lllltl, it will be understood that wheel 9@ turns as the drum rotates, and eventually the support lido will contact lever dit and move it downwardly. Lever 84 being of a toggle type will snap downwardly as soon as it is moved past center whereby spring lli can act to close door ln adjusting arm lo?. it will be understood that a predetermined number of rotations ot the drum 3@ is represented by the distances between holes lo@ and with this information together with knowledge of the amount of grain being weighed in each pocket 34 and 3d, the matter of setting pawl lltld in the desired hole lllll is a simple calculation. Scale means llls (FIG. 5) are employed in a well known manner for regulating the desired weight necessary to rotate the buckets 3H.- and 36 and include a scale beam lll? provided with an adjustable poise lill. One end of beam il@ is pivotally mounted to a bearing member .lid on frame 2li at the top of hopper l2 and has a short arm llo extending toward the drum Sti and in the path of rotatable studs M8 projecting from the drum sides, there being one such stud or each pocket. Thus as a bucket 34 or 36 is loaded, stud lid will engage the underside of the scale arm 116 (FIG, 5) and when the load is sulicicnt to lift the poise lll?, the beam lill is tipped and drum El) turns quickly by gravity to discharge its load.

The momentum of drum 3@ as it quickly turns with a loaded pocket can possibly be sufiicient to trip the scale beam again as the succeeding stud MS comes into place under arm liti to position the next pocket for receiving grain and to avoid this possibility, I have provided a novel stop means l2@ (FlGS. 3 and 4) which is an elongated hook member shaped generally in the form of a question mark so as to include a hook-like head 122 and a tail i924 which is provided with the arcuate edge 3126. Stop i12-5l is pivotally attached below head i212 to a bracket on hopper "frame the opposite side to the scale beam lill and is normally vertically disposed as shown in FlG. 4 so as to intersect the path of lugs lil-l on the corresponding side of drum 3d, there being one such lug for each pocket. The position of stop lill relative to a vertical plane can be adjusted by an engaging set screw E32 on bracket By this ar angement, as the drum Sill quickly rotates, the successive lug 13S rst engages the lower portion of edge lili-t3 on the tail portion 24 of stop l2@ and as it moves upwardly against such edge, the stop l2@ pivots sufficiently so that the hook head portion l2?, directly intersects the path oin the lug ltl and is abruptly engaged thereby to provide a momentarily but jolting stop action to the drum. The stop 120 will thereafter seek its normal position due to gravity andthe curvature of the hook head 122 is such that a subsequent mild contact by lug 139 against the head 1.22 as the scale beam is tipped will merely cause the head to move out of the way and ailord no obstruction. As lug 13d abruptly contacts hook head E22, the reaction on the drum is a momentarily partial reversal oi direction of rotation and this can possibly cause the drum to come to rest at a point where the drum pocket is not accurately registered with the chute opening 52. This is avoided by the use of a leaf spring member i315 (FIGS. 2 and 5) connected to the inside of hopper side 2o and extending upwardly and laterally so that the top edge intersects the path of the studs lid. Thus as the drum rotates, a stud lle will engage spring 134iwhich will yield to permit it to pass and as lug i3@ on the other side of the drum is stopped by member l2@ as described and the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed, stud lllf is prevented from any appreciable reverse rotation by the top of spring .i3d which has returned to a position in the path of its movement.

For lfurther improving the operation of this weigher, I have placed a plurality ot spaced air outlet openings i136 on each end of the drum and in addition a brush lES carried by brackets 5S is in longitudinal engagement with perimeter of the duim to eicct a sweeping action thereon. Each time the drum rotates, a certain amount of grain will fall on the closed surface of the drum between tl e pocket openings and with brush .1133, such grain is swept into the succeeding pocket at the next rotation of the drum` Without such a brush, a good deal of grain is spilled exteriorly of the drum. ln actual operation, the pockets lill quickly and rotation of the drum is relatively rapid, so that the brush is very eliective for the purpose indicated.

While gravity weighers, as such, are not new, it will be appreciated that the use of my metering wheel 9i) permits the weighing operation to continue unattended until the desired amount of grain has been weighed and to stop automatically when this limit has been reached. Heretofore, such weighers have required the attention of an operator to stop the weighing operation at the required time. lt should also be pointed out that in 6 a modiiied form of drum structure ld@ is shown to illustrate an arrangement for more than two pockets.

With reference now to FlGS. 7-10, l have illustrated a moditied structure for automatically opening and closing the door 54 each time the drum 3l) rotates to empty one of the pockets 34 or 36 together with an improvement in the scale assembly for more accurate readings. with the exception of such new parts -as will be descr t d, like parts will be given like numerals relative to the cisclosures in FGS, l-5.

ln FEGS. 7-lll the hand operated means for opening door 5d and the spring means for closing the same are eliminated and in place thereof, l use a solenoid on member 48 and having an operating arm E44 connected to member m When the solenoid is not actuated, arm

JU. lid-fi is extended and door 54E- is closed, being held in such position by a spring lido on the opposite member 58 connected between the respective opposite members 45s Zliiu. 58, the same as the solenoid When actuated, arm llt/i rctracts to overcome the force or spring 145 and open Vdoor Sd. Means for actuating and deactuating the solenoid 142 is accomplished by tripping a mercury switch i148 mounted on hopper frame Ztl near the metering wi eel ill?, such switch being connected by leads lSl and X52 to the solenoid. Switch `lli-il is pivotally mounted on a support iSd so as to be in the path of diametricall spaced arcuate cam strips 1555/ on the adjacent side of drum 3G so that as the drum fill rotates, switch will ride over and be tilted by each cam litA throughout its length, during which time solenoid lll?. is actuated and door Se is open. Cams lic are so positioned that when member to open position, said switch engaging members positione so that said switch is closed when said pockets register with said discharge opening and is opened as a loaded pocket moves away from said discharge opening at which time said spring means moves said closure member to closed position, a metering wheel connected to and operated by rotation ot said drum so as to act upon said switch after a predetermined number of drum rotations, and said switch when acted upon by the metering wheel opening the circuit of said leads to deactuate said solenoid and permit the closure member to be moved to closed position by said spring means.

5. ln a grain weighing machine of the class having a hopper, a drum provided with a plurality of pockets, said drum rotatably mounted said hopper and turning by the weight of the load of grain in the pockets whereby the grain is discharged into the hopper, and scale beam means operatively associated with the drum to selectively determine the weight necessary to turn the drum, the combination therewith of improvements comprising a chute supported by and spaced above said hopper, said chute provided with a discharge opening positioned to direct grain into said pockets, a closure member for said discharge opening, control means exteriorly of said hopper and connected to said closure member for moving the same to respective open and closed positions relative to said discharge opening, spaced lugs on one side of said drum, an elongated stop member vertically disposed and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to a support carried by said hopper, the upper end of said stop member dening a hook shaped head and the lower portion dening an arcuate tail, said stop member disposed in the path of movement of said lugs, rotation of said drum causing said lugs to successively iirst engage said arcuate tail whereby said head is pivoted directly into the path of said lug and said head is abruptly joltingly engaged thereby, means to prevent any counter rotation of said drum after contact by said lug with said head, said head returning by gravity to its vertical position after contact by said lug, the curvature ot said head causing said stop to be pivoted by said lug by a subsequent mild Contact therewith so as to permit the continued rotation of said drum, and said lugs and stop member positioned to eiifect a temporary cessation of drum rotation corresponding to the discharge or grain from said pockets and registering of a successive pocket with said discharge opening.

6. ln a grain weighing machine of the class having a hopper, a drum provided with a plurality of pockets, said drum rotatably mounted on an axle in said hopper and turning by the weight of the load of grain in the pockets whereby the grain is discharged into the hopper, and scale beam means operatively associated with the drum to selectively determine the weight necessary to turn the drum, the combination therewith of improvements comprising a closure means on said hopper, a gear box on said hopper connected to one end of said axle, a metering wheel connected to said gear box whereby the amount of rotation of said metering wheel relative to the number of rotations of said drum can be predetermined, selectively adjustable means on said metering wheel to indicate when a desired number of drum rotations has been completed, and means on said metering wheel for acting against said closure means to actuate the same.

'7. In a grain weighing machine of the class having a hopper, a drum provided with a plurality of pockets, said drum rotatably mounted on an axle in said hopper and turning by the weight of the load of grain in the pockets whereby the grain is discharged into the hopper, and scale beam means operatively associated with the drum to selectively determine the weight necessary to turn the drum, the combination therewith of improvements comprising a chute supported by and spaced above said hopper, said chute provided with a discharge opening positioned to direct grain into said pockets, a closure member for said distopening, control means exteriorly of said hopper and connected to said closure member for moving the same to respective open and closed positions relative to said discharge opening, holding means releasably engageable with said control means to hold said control means in a position where said closure member is open relative to said discharge opening, spring means automatically acting upon said control means when said holding means is released to effect movement of said closure member to closed position, a gear box on said hopper connected to one end of said axle, a metering wheel connected to said gear box whereby the amount or" rotation of said metering wheel relative to the number of rotations of said drum can be predetermined, said metering wheel being of disc shape and provided with a plurality of equally spaced openings near and concentric with the perimeter thereof, a gauge arm having one end pivotally attached to said metering wheel at the axis thereof, the other end of said arm ca `rying a movable pawl selectively insertable in said openings, and said gauge arm capable of acting against said holding means to release the same during rotation of said metering wheel.

8. In a grain weighing machine of the class having a hopper, a drum provided with a plurality of pockets, said drum rotatably mounted in said hopper and turning by the Iweight of the load of grain in the pockets whereby the grain is discharged into the hopper, and scale beam means operatively associated with the drum to selectively determine the weight necessary to turn the drum, the combinaion therewith of improvements comprising a chute supported by and spaced above said hopper, said chute provided with a discharge opening positioned to direct grain into said pockets, a closure member for said discharge opening, control means exteriorly of said hopper and connected to said closure member for moving the same to 'respective open and closed positions relative to said discharge opening, spaced lugs on one side of said drum, an elongated stop member vertically disposed and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to a support carried by said hopper, the upper end of said stop member defining a hook shaped head. said stop member disposed in the path of movement of said lugs, rotation of said drum causing said lugs to successively first engage said stop member below its pivot point, whereby said head is pivotcd directly into the path of said lug and said head is abruptly joltingly cngaged thereby, means to prevent any counter rotation of said drum after contact by said lug with said head, said stop member returning by gravity to its vertical position after contact by said lug, the curvature of said head causing said stop to be pivoted by said lug by a subsequent mild Contact therewith so as to permit the continued rotation of said drum, and said lugs and stop member positioned to etect a temporary cessation of drum rotation corresponding to the discharge of grain from said pockets and registering of a successive pocket with said discharge opening.

9. ln a grain weighing machine of the class having a hopper, a drum provided with a plurality of pockets, said drum rotatably mounted in said hopper and turning by the weight of the load of grain in the pockets whereby the grain is discharged into the hopper, and scale beam means operatively associated with the drum to selectively determine the weight necessary to turn the drum, the combination therewith of improvements comprising a chute supported by and spaced above said hopper, said chute provided with a discharge opening positioned to direct grain into said pockets, a closure member for said discharge opening, a crank arm engaged with said closure member for moving the same to open and closed position respectively, clamp means releasably engageable with said crank arm to hold the same in position `where said closure memer is open, metering means connected to said drum for selectively limiting the number' of rotations of said drum, means on said metering means for acting upon and rcleasing said clamp means after a predetermined number of drum rotations, and means automatically acting upon said crank arm when said clamp means is released to effect movement of said closure member to closed positron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carmony May 30, 1876 Wakeeld Aug. 16, 1892 OConnor Aug. 30, 1892 Dennis Dec. 1, 1896 Arne Apr. 6, 1897 10 A 10 Polte Nov. 15, 1904 Sauer Feb. 7, 1905 Staaf Sept. 11, 1917 Smith etal Feb. 23, 1926 Rees Ian. 25, 1927 Hale July 27, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 24, 1924 Great Britain July 11, 1935 

6. IN A GRAIN WEIGHING MACHINE OF THE CLASS HAVING A HOPPER, A DRUM PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF POCKETS, SAID DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON AN AXLE IN SAID HOPPER AND TURNING BY THE WEIGHT OF THE LOAD OF GRAIN IN THE POCKETS WHEREBY THE GRAIN IS DISCHARGED INTO THE HOPPER, AND SCALE BEAM MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUM TO SELECTIVELY DETERMINE THE WEIGHT NECESSARY TO TURN THE DRUM, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING A CLOSURE MEANS ON SAID HOPPER, A GEAR BOX ON SAID HOPPER 